MP Patrick Illidge detained on bribery charges

POSTED: 01/21/14 12:47 PM

St. Maarten – Independent Member of Parliament Patrick Illidge was detained by the Landsrecherche yesterday morning in connection with the Orca investigation into possible bribery and money laundering, the Public Prosecutor’s Office confirmed. He was arrested on charges of bribery, money laundering, and being part of an association with criminal intent.

The Public Prosecutor’s office said in a press release that the MP voluntarily turned himself in and that the interrogation is pending. They would not comment further on the matter as they said the investigation is still ongoing. Because Illidge is a parliamentarian, the investigators had to go through the court first before being able to detain and question him.

The Orca investigation started in March last year following a leaked video on the websites of both The Daily Herald and the Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf. In the video, owner of the Bada Bing brothel Jaap van den Heuvel can be seen handing over a large quantity (allegedly $15,000) in what looks like US currency to MP Illidge.

Van den Heuvel has maintained that the money that he is seen handing over to Illidge was a repayment of a loan and not a bribe. He was arrested last year on similar charges. His pre-trial detention is currently suspended.